Delivery of Value Identifiers Using Short Message Service (SMS)

ABSTRACT

A system and method for adding value to a customer account are provided. An identifier associated with a value is distributed to a customer. The identifier is usable to add the value to an account. A request to add the value to a customer account is received via short message service (SMS). The request comprises the identifier and account identification information associated with the customer account. In some embodiments, the identifier may be entered into the device using text auto-completion software. The request is received from a user communication device as an SMS message. The value associated with the identifier and the customer account associated with the account identification number are identified based on the request. The value is caused to be added to the customer account. A confirmation that the value was added to the customer account is passed to the user communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/664,188 filed Mar. 23, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the delivery of identifiers such as PINs fromuser devices to account providers such as telecommunication serviceproviders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communication devices and other electronic components, especially mobiletelephones, are a very common consumer product. In many countries, apopular type of payment arrangement for service associated with a device(such as telecommunication service tor a mobile telephone) is for theuser to make payments to credit their account in advance of using themobile telephone. This type of payment-is commonly known as “pre-pay”.The process of making a payment and crediting the user's account iscommonly known as a “top-up”, which term reflects the normal manner ofusage in which the user frequently tops up their account by relativelysmall amounts. Many pre-pay systems allow the user to make payments at avariety of retail outlets, thereby allowing the user to pay for a top-upat a location which is convenient to them.

Conventional stored value accounts such as mobile telephone accounts arereloaded or “topped up” in a two-step process. First, the customerpurchases at a retail outlet a stored value card having a PIN (e.g., ofup to 16 or more letters and/or digits) associated with a specific valuesuch as $20. Second, the customer accesses a central processor, e.g., bycalling an 800 number on the back of the card, and requests to add thecard's value to the customer's account. During the call, the customertypically provides card identification information such as a PIN as wellas information sufficient to identify the customer's account, such as aphone number associated with the account and the name of the accountprovider. For instance, a customer attempting to add the card value to awireless phone account may call an 800 number on the back of the card toaccess a centralized VRU. In response to various VRU prompts, thecustomer may input the card PIN, the name of the customer's serviceprovider (such as AT&T), and the phone number corresponding to thewireless account. The central VRU system may then cause the card valueto be added to the customer's wireless account.

Many of these cards are still printed, stored and transported by theMobile Operators under highly secure conditions to the retailer ordistributor as they arc effectively active (i.e. useable and thereforevaluable) as soon as they are printed. As the market has expanded, thelogistical complexity of maintaining this process for such large numbersof transactions and the costs associated with managing the manyopportunities for fraud and system abuse led the Network Operators toseek other alternatives. Often, no record is kept of where a card hasbeen distributed, as the route to market is often quite elaborate. Somesmall stores buy cards at cash and carries, and few if any systems havebeen developed that can cancel all stolen cards. Lorries full of cardshave been stolen; staff in stores have sold cards and pocketed the moneythemselves. Cards (or other physical embodiments of a PIN or otheridentifier) are often equivalent to money.

More recently electronic payment systems of crediting a mobile phoneaccount have been developed. Some of these systems use magnetic stripecards in which limited user details were contained within a magneticstripe. In some recent systems, cards are distributed in an “inactivestate” and activated at the point, of sale (“POS”).

Despite intense efforts by the mobile operators to promote an earlierelectronic system, market acceptance has been slow. Cards have notreduced in popularity, it is simply that the cards are expensive for themobile operators and have been encouraged to decline, and alternativesystems are being promoted and made increasingly attractive.

Other systems enable customers to replenish prepaid mobile phoneaccounts by sending an SMS message to a centralized system, Forinstance, U.S. Application Publication No. 2002/0115424 to Bagorendiscloses one such system. Other relevant systems includes thosedescribed in the following patents and applications: U.S. Pat. No.6,375,073 to Aebi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,067 to Nguyen et al; andU.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0187772 to Hyyppa et al.The disclosures of all references mentioned herein are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

There are several disadvantageous costs associated with many prior artsystems and methods: a cost of IVR provisioning; a cost of CustomerServices for high rate of fall-out from IVR (typing in a numberconsisting of 16 digits can be difficult and can involve error); cost ofsecure delivery; cost of wastage, loss, and theft; and a high cost forretailer to hold ail denominations of all service providers. Also, theend-user may be unlikely to find the right denomination for the rightoperator at all merchants. Also, the process can be time-consuming forthe customer.

In addition, many people do not like carrying yet mote plastic cards.Most plastic cards arc not transferable. In other words, a first usercannot top up a second users account with the first user's card. Thecards from many service providers do not have a phone number on them, sothey can get mixed up. The unregistered cams are often used once anddiscarded. As they are plastic, they are more expensive than the cardsthey replace.

It is desirable to provide an improved system and method for addingvalue to a stored-value account.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, various embodiments of the invention are directed to asystem and method tor adding value to a customer account. An identifierassociated with a value is distributed to a customer. The identifier isusable to add the value to an account. A request to add the value to acustomer account is received via short message service (SMS). Therequest comprises the identifier and account identification informationassociated with the customer account. The request is received from auser communication device as an SMS message. The value associated withthe identifier and the customer account associated with the accountidentification number are identified based on the request. The value iscaused to be added to the customer account. A confirmation that thevalue was added to the customer account is passed to the usercommunication device.

According to one embodiment, an identifier associated with a value isdistributed to a customer, wherein the identifier is usable to add thevalue to an account. A request to add value to a customer account isreceived via short message service (SMS), wherein the request comprisesthe identifier and an identification number associated with the customeraccount. The request is received from a user communication device. Thevalue associated with the identifier is identified. The value is causedto be added to the customer account.

According to another embodiment, a system tor distributing an identifierassociated with a value to a customer is provided, wherein theidentifier is usable to add the value to the account. An input devicereceives via short message service (SMS) a request to add the value to acustomer account. The request comprises the identifier and accountidentification information associated with the customer account. Therequest is received from a user communication device as an SMS message.A processor identifies the value associated with the identifier and thecustomer account associated with the account identification informationbased on the request. A value insertion system causes the value to beadded to the customer account. An output device passes to the usercommunication device a confirmation that the value was added to thecustomer account.

According to another embodiment, a method for adding value to a customeraccount is provided. An identifier associated with a prepaid value isreceived at a second user communication device associated with acustomer account from a first user communication device. A request toadd the value to the customer account is passed to a central processor.The request to add value comprises the identifier and accountidentification information associated with the customer account Therequest to add value is passed via SMS. The central processor isconfigured to identify the value and the customer account based on therequest.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system for passing an identifier using short messageservice.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart showing a method for passing an identifierusing short message service.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a systemfor adding value to a customer account. In some embodiments, a wirelesscommunication device may send a value identifier via short messageservice (“SMS”) to a centralized redemption processing system. Forinstance, the user may enter a PIN on a phone keypad of a mobile phoneconfigured to send SMS messages. The communication may containinformation sufficient to identify a customer account. For instance, thewireless communication device may be a phone associated with theaccount, wherein the phone number of the wireless device is encoded inthe message and is sufficient to identify the account. The centralizedsystem may then cause the value associated with the Identifier to beadded to the identified account.

In some embodiments, the centralized system may identify the accountbased on the communication. For instance, the centralized system mayidentify the account based on a phone number in the communication.

In some embodiments, the account may be managed by the centralizedsystem. In other embodiments, the account may be managed by a separateaccount provider system. In embodiments where the account is managed bya separate system, the centralized system may cause the value to beinserted into the user's account, e.g., in any manner as describedherein or in the patent applications referenced herein.

In some embodiments, the centralized system may enable adding valueassociated with a PIN to a prepaid account. For Instance, a customerhaving a pay-as-you-go wireless mobile phone service account maypurchase a $20 prepaid phone card PIN in order to “top off” or rechargetire airtime minutes in the account. The prepaid card comprises a PINand a phone number. In prior art systems, the customer would redeem thecard value by calling the phone number and then providing the PIN andaccount number at IVR prompts. The centralized system may enable thecustomer to send the PIN in an SMS communication (i.e. text message) tothe phone number. For mobile phone customers who send a PIN from theirrespective mobile phone, the account number (i.e., mobile phone number)need not be provided in the text of the message because it may beidentified via an SMS header or caller ID mechanism. For other accounts,the customer may also include an account number in tire text of themessage. Once the service provider system identifies the PIN and accountnumber based on the SMS message, the PIN's value may he identified andadded to the designated account using traditional methods. Thus, acustomer may add value to an account by sending a simple SMS textmessage instead of navigating a two-way phone call.

In some embodiments, the centralized system may send a transactionconfirmation back to a user communication device (e.g., a mobile phonethat initiated a request to add value), e.g., via SMS. For instance, aconfirmation may be sent via SMS to indicate that a request to add valuewas successfully received. In some embodiments, a confirmation may besent to indicate that the request was passed to the proper accountmanagement system. In some embodiments, a confirmation may be sent tothe user's communication device to indicate that the value wassuccessfully added to the customer's account.

In some embodiments, the centralized system may enable the use of anauto-spelling phone dictionary software in mobile phones, such as T9 orZi, to simplify the process of entering the text of a PIN on a phonekeypad. For instance, by using PINs based on real words, theauto-spelling dictionary may auto-complete a word comprised in the PIN.For instance, for a PIN based on the word “kitchen,” such as“kitchen123,” the phone may auto-complete the word “kitchen” after theuser enters the letters “k-i-i-c.”

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to payment systems andmethods that may allow consumers to make payments at retail locations,e.g., payments for value to be added to a customer account. Someembodiments relate to the use of technical means to facilitate suchtransactions. While some embodiments relate specifically to payments forcrediting an account associated with a device such as a mobiletelephone, these and other embodiments may also be more generallyapplicable to payment for other products and services.

Various embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunctionwith existing systems. For instance, value may be added to an accountvia any embodiment disclosed herein, and value may be added to the sameaccount using conventional systems. In one conventional system, amagnetic stripe card payment system may involve the distribution ofcurds bearing a card identifier such as a PAN (of up to 19 or moredigits). A customer may place a call to an IVR system and enter the PANon the mobile phone (or other device) for validation of the card and forlinking this card to the mobile phone's airtime account. Thereafter themagnetic stripe may be read when payment is made by swiping the cardthrough a reader in a retail outlet to Identify the mobile telephoneaccount.

Accordingly, some embodiments of the present invention provide forsystems and methods wherein users pass value identifiers (such as aprepaid card PIN) to a central system (or provider system, such as asystem of a telecommunications service provider) via short messageservice (SMS). The SMS message may comprise the PIN (or otheridentifier).

In some embodiments, the central system may identify the account. Forinstance, the central system may identify the account if an SMS messageis sent from a device that automatically communicates information,identifying the account. For instance, the central system may identify aphone number of a mobile phone that sent the SMS message, wherein thephone number is associated with an account. In some embodiments, such asin circumstances where an account cannot otherwise be identified fromthe SMS communication, the SMS message may also comprise an accountnumber associated with a product or service.

Although many embodiments are described herein in reference to mobilephones, mobile phone accounts, mobile phone service providers, PINs, andprepaid cards, it should be appreciated that the systems and methodsdescribed herein may apply to any communication device (e.g., anycommunication device equipped to send text messages), any accountrelated to a product or service, any provider of a product or service,any identifier associated with a value, and any representation of theidentifier (e.g., physical or electronic).

FIG. 1 shows a system for passing an identifier using short messageservice. As shown in FIG. 1, the system may comprise one or more usercommunication devices 10 a-10 h, a central processor 2, one or moreprovider systems 8 a-8 h, and one or more merchants 6 a-6 b. One or moremerchants 6 a-6 h may distribute identifiers (e.g., card havingidentifiers associated with a value) to one or more customers. Forinstance, the identifiers may be distributed at a point of sale using apoint of sale terminal, e.g., by swiping a magnetic stripe of a storedvalue card having a printed identifier associated with a value (which insome embodiments may be selected at the point of sale).

The central processor 2 may comprise any computer, server, databasesystem, or other system. The provider systems 8 or central processor 2may manage customer accounts, like central processor 2, the providersystems may also comprise any computer, server, database system, orother system.

The user communication, device 10 may comprise any device that enableselectronic communication (e.g., SMS text messaging) between a user andanother entity. For instance, the user communication device 10 maycomprise a wireless handset or portable Internet-enabled video gameplayer. The user communication device 10 may be equipped with a keypadand other functionality.

A customer may said an SMS message from a user communication device 10 ato one or more other user communication devices 10 b or to a centralprocessor 2. The SMS message may comprise a request to add theassociated value to a customer account. The request may comprise theidentifier as well as account identification information of the customeraccount (e.g., a phone number corresponding to a telecommunicationsservice account) as well as information identifying the provider of theaccount (such as the telecommunications service provider).

The user communication devices 10 may also be equipped with software andhardware to enable voice recognition and automatic spelling anddictionary functionality with respect to entering the identifier and/orthe identification information into the message. For instance, a usercommunication device 10 may store a variety of different user accountnumbers wherein each account number may be entered by pressing a singlebutton (or combination of buttons), without entering the whole accountnumber. In these instances, the phone or other user communication device10 may store the account numbers so that users do not have to rememberthem.

Embodiments of the present invention may comprise an alternative paymentsystem and method that involves the use of technical means that may besimilar to or different from those described above, e.g., to effectpayment for crediting an account.

Some embodiments are directed to a system for crediting an account (suchas a mobile phone account) using some or all of the followingcomponents:

-   -   (1) A mobile phone having a radio communication circuit and a        keyboard capable of keying numbers and/or letters of the        alphabet and the ability to use the Short Message Service text        system provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications        networks (or other centralized system or provider system);    -   (2) A card purchased from a retail outlet (or over the Internet        or other communications network) containing a PIN (or other        identifier) comprising alphabetic and/or numeric characters        (e.g., and a telephone number for the service);    -   (3) A transaction control system (or other central system, such        as the central system mentioned above) remote from the mobile        phone (or other device), the mobile phone and the transaction        control system able to communicate using the SMS text messaging        facility, the transaction control system storing PIN database        records wherein each PIN has a related denomination stored        against it.    -   (4) An airtime account control system (or other central system)        run by the Mobile Operator (or other central entity), the        airtime account, control system and the transaction control        system being remote and being capable of communicating over a        communications link, the airtime account control system storing        account database records of mobile phone accounts, each account        database record including an amount of credit (or other value).

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart showing a method for passing an identifierusing short message service.

In block 210, a value identifier may be distributed to a user. Forinstance, the user may purchase a prepaid phone card having a PIN. Insome embodiments, the user may purchase an amount of value at apoint-of-sale, and the point-of-sale may distribute a coupon or voucherhaving a PIN or other code representative of the purchase value. In someembodiments, the user may receive the identifier via mail, email, SMS,or other communication (e.g., as a reward for a prior purchase or otheractivity ). Any methods of obtaining an identifier associated with valueare contemplated herein.

By way of example, a user may purchase a stored value card having anassociated value of $50 with the printed PIN “15243CANDLE.” ForInstance, the PIN “5243CANDLE” may be usable to add $50 of value to anaccount.

In block 220, a portion of the identifier may be entered into a usercommunication device such as a wireless phone. The identifier (orportion thereof) may be provided to a user communication device as partof an SMS message. For instance, the user may elect to compose an SMStext message and then begin to enter a PIN associated with purchasedvalue.

For instance, the user may enter the letters “C-A-N-D” into the keypadof a wireless phone. (It should be appreciated that tire number keypadof a phone can be used to enter letters and symbols as well as numbers.For instance, pressing the number “3” two times in rapid succession canbe used to enter the letter “E”.)

In block 230, the user device may automatically complete the identifier(or portion thereof).

For instance, upon entry of the first one or more letters of a PIN orother code (or portion thereof) into a user device, the user device mayimplement auto-complete functions. For instance, upon entering theletters “C-A-N-D” (e.g., via voice recognition or on a keypad such as acomputer keyboard or phone keypad), the user device may automaticallycomplete the word “CANDLE” by automatically entering the remainingletters “L-E.” The user may delete the auto-completed letters orotherwise undo the auto-completion by using a backspace, deletefunction, voice command, or other similar functionality. In someembodiments, the user device may suggest possible auto-completed wordsthat can be selected by the user. For Instance, after entry of“C-A-N-D,” the user device may suggest the words “CANDY,” “CANDIES,” and“CANDLE. ” The user may then, select the intended word (here, “CANDLE”).In this way, text entry (e.g., on a phone keypad) can be expedited andsimplified.

It should be appreciated that the PIN may be entered in any variety ofways. For instance, the user device may have voice recognition software(or other similar functionality) to recognize and/or identify spokenletters, words, numbers, and symbols (such as the characters of a PIN).For instance, a user may enter a PIN into a user device (e.g., amicrophone comprised in the device) by speaking each of the letters,numbers, and symbols of a PIN or other code. The user device may converteach of the spoken characters into text (e.g., text displayed on ascreen of the user device.) For instance, if the PIN is “15243CANDLE,”then the user may speak each character in series, e.g.,“1-5-2-4-3-C-A-N-D-L-E.” In some embodiments, voice recognition softwaremay also enable recognition of entire spoken words. Thus, for the aboveexample, the user may speak “1-5-2-4-3-CANDLE,” wherein the digits arespoken in succession while the word “candle” is pronounced as a singleword. Combinations of spoken and written letters, words, numbers,symbols, and other characters are also contemplated herein. Forinstance, the user may enter the digits “1-5-2-4-3” on a keypad and thenspeak the word “candle” or speak each letter “C-A-N-D-L-E.” The usermight also speak each of the numbers “1-5-2-4-3” and then enter theletters “C-A-N-D-L-E.”

In block 240, provider and/or account identification information may beentered Into the user device. For instance, the user may speak the nameof the company (such as AT&T) that provides telecommunications servicefor the user's mobile phone or other user device. This company or otherentity may be the provider of the account to which the user may want toadd value. The user may also enter an account number or other accountidentifier, such as the phone number of the mobile telephone account forwhich value is to be added. Alternately, another number associated withthe account may be provided instead of a phone number, e.g., foraccounts that do not involve a phone and for accounts that have anaccount number separate from the mobile telephone number. For instance,these numbers may be spoken or entered at the user communication device.

In some embodiments, account identification information may be entered(or otherwise provided) automatically or with minimal user input. Forinstance, the phone number of a user communication device may beautomatically transmitted in (or with) any SMS message transmitted fromthe user communication device, e.g., as source information related tothe SMS message. Alternately, the phone number (or other accountidentifier) may be stored in the user communication device (or on acommunications network to which the user communication is connected),and the stored number (or code) may be inserted automatically with asimple click of a button (or combination of buttons). For instance, theuser may store a fifteen-digit account number as a speed-dial number inan internal (or networked) database. Instead of entering the entireaccount number manually for each request to add value to the account,the user may simply speed-dial the number to cause it to be entered intothe text message. In some embodiments, the user device may have memorycomprising a “phone book” (stored locally on the user device orexternally on a communication network or other database or storage).Account numbers, PINs, and other information may be stored in the “phonebook” (or other storage system) just like any other number or code. Thismay enable the user to enter these numbers into the SMS message (orattach them to the message) directly from the phone book without havingto manually or verbally enter the individual characters of the accountnumber or PIN, etc.

Mobile telephones and other mobile communication devices may also havem-wallet functionality, which may be used in conjunction with thefeatures and functions described herein. For instance, a user may addcredit cards, passwords, and other account identifiers to a databasestored on the communication device (or a central processor incommunication with the communication device) for use in transactions.

In some embodiments, a customer may enter customer accountidentification information that is not related to the user communicationdevice. For instance, the customer may enter on an SMS-enabled wirelessphone (or personal computer) the number of a bank account, utilityaccount, online merchant account, or other account to which the customerwants to add the value.

It should he appreciated that the SMS message may comprise any otherinformation sufficient to identify the account, such as the name,address, or code associated with a provider of the account (e.g., thename of the bank or utility). This information may be necessary so thatthe central processor may cause the value associated with the identifierto he added to the proper customer account.

In block 250, the user device may transmit via SMS a request to add thevalue associated with the identifier to the user account. The SMSmessage may comprise a PIN, account identification information, and/oraccount provider identification information. For Instance, the SMSmessage may comprise the inputs entered into the user input device asdescribed in blocks 210-240.

Continuing with the example described above, the SMS message maycomprise the PIN “15243CANDLE” and may include the phone number (orother SMS identifier) of the user communication, device from which tireSMS message originates. For example, the phone number may be comprisedin the formatting (e.g., the header) of the message rather than the bodyof the message. In some embodiments, the PIN, account identifier, andaccount provider may be identified in the message (e.g., in the body ofthe message), For example, the message body may comprise a PIN(“15243CANDLE”) followed by a phone number (e.g., 2023551234) followedby an account provider (e.g., “AT&T” or a numerical code associated withthe provider), The message may conform to predetermined formattingspecifications, such as formatting instructions provided on a purchasedstored value card. For Instance, a single space may separate the PINfrom the account identification information in the text message.

The request may be passed, to a central processor or other entity,

In block 260, the central processor may receive the request Based on thereceived SMS message, the central processor may identify the value,account information (e.g., account identification information), and/orprovider identification information (e.g., the identity of the provider.For instance, the central processor may identify the PIN from the bodyof the text, and the central processor may identify the accountidentification information (such as a phone number) from the header orother formatting information of the SMS message.

The central processor may identify a value associated with theidentifier by looking op the identifier in a database of identifiers,each associated with a value. For instance, in the case of stored valuecards with a predetermined value that are distributed to customers, eachPIN Identifier printed on a card may he associated with a specificpredetermined value prior to distributing the cards. In otherembodiments, the customer may assign a selectable value to a particularPIN. For instance, a particular PIN or card number may be assigned avalue selected by the customer at the time the customer purchases thevalue. In those embodiments, the value may be associated with thespecific value at the point of sale and stored in a database operativelyconnected to the central processor. The central processor mayaccordingly process information in the database to determine the valuethat corresponds to the identified PIN or other code.

In some embodiments, the central processor may also identity accountidentification information, such as a phone number of the requestinguser communication device. In some embodiments, the central processormay process the body or formatting information to determine the accountidentification information. Like the PIN and value information, accountinformation may be stored in raid retrieved from a database. Forinstance, an account database may associate each of a plurality of useraccounts with account identification information (such as a phone numberof a user communication device).

In some embodiments, the central processing system may manage thecustomer account for which value is requested to be added. In theseembodiments, the central processor may cause the value to be added tothe account, e.g., by amending a database entry corresponding to theaccount.

In block 270, the central processor may pass to a provider system arequest to add the value to the customer account. For Instance, if thecustomer's account is managed by a third-party account provider (e.g., acarrier of telecommunications service or a public utility), then therequest may be passed to this entity so that it can add the value to theaccount. The request may comprise any request as described or referencedherein. For instance, the request may comprise a request to “insertvalue” into the customer's account, as described In one of theapplications incorporated by reference.

It should be understood that the actions described for block 270 may beunnecessary if the central processor manages the customer's account.

In block 280, the account provider system may add the value to thecustomer account. Again, it should be noted that the account providermay be the same or different entity than the central processor.

In block 290, a confirmation message may be passed to the originatinguser communication device. For instance, if a user communication deviceoriginates the request to add value, then a confirmation may be passedto this device, e.g., via SMS. Any type of confirmation may be passed.For instance, a confirmation of any of the following may be passed tothe user device or otherwise communicated to the user: a confirmationthat the request was received; a confirmation of the amount of valuerequested; a confirmation that the request was passed to the relevantprovider; a confirmation that the value was successfully added to theaccount; an updated account balance; and other confirmation information.It should also be appreciated that the request process may comprise oneor more verification steps. For instance, upon receiving a request toadd value, the central processor may send a reply SMS messageidentifying the account (or the name of the requestor or otherinformation associated with the request) and requesting confirmation toproceed with the transaction (e.g., by pressing “OK” on a phone keypad,and/or sending a reply SMS message containing the number “1” or anothercode indicating confirmation).

Various modifications and deviations from the method described hereinare also within the purview of the invention. For instance, it should beappreciated that the identifier may be distributed to one customer butthen received from another customer. For instance, the identifier may bedistributed to one customer, who then gives it (e.g., transmits it viaSMS) to another customer. The second customer may then request to addthe value associated with the Identifier to an account of the secondcustomer (or a third customer). The identifier may be passed to anynumber of different users before it is redeemed.

It should also be appreciated that the request to add value may bereceived from a person different from the holder of the target account.For instance, a parent may purchase value and send an SMS messagerequesting to add purchased value to a child's (or friend's) account. Insome embodiments, a request to add value may be processed regardless ofthe source of the request as long as the identifier and accountidentification information correspond to valid value identifiers andcustomer accounts.

Other methods of implementing various embodiments of the invention maycomprise some or all of the following actions:

-   -   (1) Keying in the alphabetic PIN (or other identifier) from a        purchased card (or other physical or virtual representation of a        value identifier) onto the mobile phone (or other communication        device) using the keyboard (or input device) of the mobile phone        (or other device);    -   (2) Sending this alphabetic PIN as an SMS text message to the        phone number for the product or service as specified on the card        (or other representation of a value identifier);    -   (3) The data read by the transaction control system        corresponding to a PIN record in the database and from this        record extracting the denomination of the purchased card;    -   (4) The transaction control system communicating with the        airtime account control system and requesting of it to update        the mobile phone's account, by the denomination of the purchased        card (or other value associated with the identifier);    -   (5) Returning an SMS text message to the mobile phone confirming        the success or otherwise of the top-up (or other transaction        wherein value is added or otherwise credited to an account).

Various features of the present invention as applied to crediting anaccount for a mobile phone may be generalized to any other products orservices. For instance, instead of maintaining and updating accountdatabase records, appropriate means for delivering the product orservice in question are provided. The manner of delivery will depend onthe product in question, but includes generating an order for a supplierto supply a product, communication of data to instruct a serviceprovider to pro vide a service, or where a product is intangible andrepresented by database records, updating that database record. In orderfor a consumer to invoke the purchase of products or services other thanan airtime credit, the alphanumeric code of the product or service maybe included in the SMS short message as well as the PIN of the cardpurchased.

According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention,systems and methods of purchasing general services may be provided.These systems and methods may involve any or all of the following:

-   -   (1) A mobile phone having a radio communication circuit, a        keyboard capable of keying numbers and letters of the alphabet        and the ability to use the Short Message Service text system        provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications networks;    -   (2) A card purchased from a retail outlet containing a PIN        comprising alphabetic characters only and a telephone number for        the service;    -   (3) A transaction control system remote from the mobile phone,        the mobile phone and the transaction control system able to        communicate using the SMS text messaging facility, the        transaction control system storing PIN database records wherein        each PIN has a related denomination stored against it;    -   (4) A service fulfillment account control system run by a        service fulfillment company, the service fulfillment account        control system and the transaction control system being remote        and being capable of communicating over a communications link,        the service fulfillment control system storing details of        products and services in a common database or databases and each        product or service has a value recorded against it in its        database record

Any methods may be used, such as those involving any or ail of thefollowing:

-   -   (1) Keying in a variable length alphanumeric product or service        identifier and the alphabetic PIN from the card onto the mobile        phone using the keyboard of the mobile phone;    -   (2) Sending this identifier and alphabetic PIN as an SMS text        message to the phone number for the service as specified on the        card;    -   (3) The data read by the transaction control system        corresponding to a PIN record in the database and from this        record extracting the denomination of the card;    -   (4) Communicating the product or service identifier from the        data read and the value of the PIN and the consumer's mobile        phone number to the service fulfillment account control system;    -   (5) The data read by the service fulfillment account control        system corresponds to a record in the service fulfillment        account control system's database and this record identifies the        product or service being requested and its value;    -   (7) Beginning the process of fulfilling the order identified        from the read data by delivering the product or service to the        consumer identified by their mobile phone number;    -   (8) Confirming back to the transaction control system that the        transaction has been successful;    -   (9) Returning a confirmation SMS text message to the mobile        phone

When applied to payments for products in general, some embodiments ofthe present invention may provide the same advantages as described abovewith reference to crediting an account for a mobile phone. The presentinvention is particularly useful in that it provides a mechanism ofallowing consumers to pay for a product at any of a large number ofretail locations, but without the retailer needing to be involved in thedelivery of the product. For instance, instead of delivering a product(or service) at a point-of-sale (POS), a merchant may merely deliver aPIN associated with the product or service (e.g., by delivering avirtual or physical representation of the PIN, such as a card). Forinstance, the customer may purchase a card comprising the PIN. Thecustomer may later contact a central entity in order to redeem theproduct or service.

Use method of payment at the retailer by the consumer for the card thatcontains the PIN may be by any accepted means supported by the retailer.The cards may appear as any other product to the retailer. Each card mayhave a unique number (e.g., a European Article Number, serial number,barcode, number encoded on a magnetic stripe). For instance, the numbermay be presented as a barcode exactly as all other products for sale.This barcode may be read by the retailer's terminal equipment and thecorrect payment amount may be indicated and requested.

According to another aspect of some embodiments of the invention, thereis provided a mechanism whereby the PIN, which for the crediting of amobile phone's service account (e.g., airtime account) alone may have aspecific value and may be communicated between consumers using any orall of the following, for example:

-   -   (1) A first mobile phone having a radio communication circuit, a        keyboard capable of keying numbers and letters of the alphabet        and the ability to use the Short Message Service text system        provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications networks;    -   (2) A card purchased horn a retail outlet containing a PIN        comprising alphabetic characters only and a telephone number for        the service;    -   (3) A second mobile phone having a radio communication circuit,        a keyboard capable of keying numbers and letters of the alphabet        and the ability to use the Short Message Service text system        provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications networks

Any methods may be used, such as methods involving any or all of thefollowing;

-   -   (1) Keying in the alphabetic PIN from the card onto the first        mobile phone using the keyboard of the mobile phone;    -   (2) Sending this alphabetic PIN as an SMS text message to the        second mobile phone;    -   (3) The second mobile phone sending this same alphabetic PIN as        an SMS text message to the phone number for the service as        specified on the card;    -   (4) The data read by the transaction control system        corresponding to a PIN record in the database and from this        record extracting the denomination of the card;    -   (5) The transaction control system communicating with the        airtime account control system and requesting of it to update        the second mobile phone's account by the amount identified by        the PIN;    -   (6) Returning a confirmation SMS text message to the mobile        phone.

The various features of the present invention as applied in the thirdaspect above to crediting an account for a mobile phone may begeneralized to any other products as described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda mechanism whereby the PIN on a card purchased from a retailer may beused in the purchase of goods and services through the web, or via otherroutes which may otherwise involve the use of credit or debit cards orother payment mechanisms that imply that the consumer has a bank orequivalent account. In some embodiments, the PIN may first be convertedinto a standard transaction card identifier, such as a Visa card number.For example, a customer may access a website (e.g., a website identifiedon the card or a website of the merchant who sold the card) and enterthe PIN, The website may receive the PIN, identify the value, purchase astored value card for a corresponding value, and then send the cardnumber (and other authorization information) to the customer, e.g., viathe website or in an email. In another embodiment, entailers may employspecial payment functionality so that PINs can be used in place ofcredit cards and other traditional payment methods.

Some embodiments of the invention may comprise my of the following:

-   -   (1) A mobile phone having a radio communication circuit, a        keyboard capable of keying numbers and letters of the alphabet        and the ability to use the Short Message Service text system        provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications networks;    -   (2) A card purchased from a retail outlet containing a PIN and a        telephone number for the service;    -   (3) A transaction control system remote from the mobile phone,        the mobile phone and the transaction control system able to        communicate using the SMS text messaging facility, the        transaction control system storing PIN database records wherein        each PIN record has a denomination stored in it;    -   (4) An airtime account control system run by the Mobile        Operator, the airtime account control system and the transaction        control system being remote and being capable of communicating        over a communications link, the airtime account control system        storing account database records of mobile phone accounts, each        account database record including an amount of credit.

Some embodiments may comprise any of the following:

-   -   (1) Purchasing a card from a retailer and using the retailer's        system to accept payment as for other goods;    -   (2) Keying in the PIN from this purchased card onto the mobile        phone using the keyboard of the mobile phone;    -   (3) Sending this PIN as an SMS text message to the phone number        for the service as specified on the card;    -   (4) The data read by the transaction control system        corresponding to a PIN record in the database and from this        record extracting the denomination of the card;    -   (5) The transaction control system communicating with the        airtime account control system and requesting of it to update        the mobile phone's account by the amount identified by the PIN;    -   (6) Returning a confirmation SMS text message to the mobile        phone.

The entry of PINs may be simplified by using a wholly alphabetic PIN.Such a PIN may be less than the length of the equivalent numeric PIN(e.g., less than half the length) and yet have the same number ofpossible values, since there are 26 letters and only 10 digits.

In some embodiments, PIN entry may be simplified by using PINs made ofwords from the T9 dictionary (or other dictionaries such asauto-spelling dictionaries).

The PIN on the card may be constructed wholly from one or more wordsfound in an automatic word spelling dictionary present in mobile phonesor other communication devices. This then simplifies the keying in ofPINs by using such dictionaries as T9 and Zi.

According to some embodiments, IVR and voice recognition may be used forsystems for PIN input on voice calls.

The alphabetic or word based PIN may be provided to the system by thecustomer talking into the system by means of a voice recognition systembased on an Interactive Voice Response service.

In some embodiments, one user may send text to one another (via SMS) andthereby electronically transfer card values to one another. Forinstance, a user may send a prepaid card PIN to another user (such as afamily member or friend). The other user may use the PIN to obtain theassociated product or service.

According to some embodiments, a user may key in a card PIN onto amobile phone using the keyboard of the mobile phone and send this PIN bySMS text message to another mobile phone. The recipient may then sendthis SMS text message on to yet another mobile phone. This process mayrepeat any number of times.

The final recipient mobile phone may send the PIN as an SMS text messageto the central system (e.g., a central phone number) for the service asspecified on the card.

The value of the cards may be controlled or monitored by batch or PCSactivation. For instance, whenever cards are swiped at a retaillocation, a central processing entity may activate the card.

Some embodiments may include any or all of the following:

-   -   (1) A mobile phone having a radio communication circuit, a        keyboard capable of keying numbers and letters of the alphabet        and the ability to use the Short Message Service text system        provided by the Mobile Operator telecommunications networks;    -   (2) A transaction control system remote from the mobile phone,        the mobile phone and the transaction control system able to        communicate using the SMS text messaging facility, the        transaction control system storing PIN database records wherein        each PIN record has a denomination stored in it;    -   (3) Combining known cards into batches of one or more card;    -   (4) Identifying these batches of cards by unique batch        identifiers and recording these batches in a database forming a        part of the transaction control system whose records contain a        status identifier for each of these batches;    -   (5) Recording all the PINs of all the cards contained in the        batch in the batch database record;    -   (6) Issuing these batches of cards to retailers with a status of        “inactive” wherein every card is therefore inactive;    -   (7) Activating one batch at a time by the retailer communicating        with the transaction control system, identifying the batch by        means of its unique batch identifier and requesting that the        status be changed to “active” wherein every card in the batch        becomes active; a process termed “activation”;

Some embodiments may comprise any or all of the following:

-   -   (1) Purchasing a card from a retailer and using the retailer's        system to accept payment as for other goods;    -   (2) Keying in the PIN from this purchased card onto the mobile        phone using the keyboard of the mobile phone;    -   (3) Sending this PIN as an SMS text message to the phone number        for the service as specified on the card;    -   (4) The data read by the transaction control system        corresponding to a PIN record in the database and from this        record extracting the denomination and the status of the card;    -   (5) Returning a rejection SMS text message to the mobile phone        if the status of the card is found to be inactive;    -   (6) The transaction control system communicating with the        airtime account control system and requesting of it to update        the mobile phone's account by the amount identified by the PIN        if the status of the card is found to be active;    -   (7) Returning a confirmation SMS text message to the mobile        phone.

In some embodiments, the value may determined by the amount paid for itby the customer. For instance, the customer may specify a certain valueto be activated on the card, according to any systems and methods knownin the art.

The retailer may be charged for the value of the cards followingactivation.

Some embodiments of the invention may provide a card based airtimetop-up service that may not need any PINs provided by the MobileOperators.

In some embodiments, an IVR may not be needed for adding PIN value to anaccount.

In some embodiments, a card purchased to perform an airtime top-up canbe used equally by account holders of any Mobile Operator (or otherproduct or service provider).

In some embodiments, entities (such as third parties) may placeadvertising on the cards (or other representation of an identifier).

In some embodiments, PINs may be used for the purchase of goods andservices other than those related to mobile airtime.

In some embodiments, PINs may be used as payment for goods and services.For instance, the PIN may be used as a card number in a transactionsimilar to that used for credit and debit cards at merchant terminals orover the Internet.

The application of air-time credit to a mobile phone may be achieved bythe end-user sending a free standard text message of a serviceidentifier (typically 5 characters) and an 8 character alphabetic PIN toan SMS host; a process with which the vast majority of Pre-Pay users arevery familiar, and whose success rate may be significantly higher thanIVR.

In some embodiments the absence of the service identifier may indicatethat the value is to be added to the user's airtime account. In someembodiments the user may determine the functionality of one or more,service identifiers.

Card PINs may be provided by a centralized system. The end-user may sendone or more PINs to the centralized system, which may construct from anInterpretation of the text an electronic top-up to the end-user's mobileoperator.

One benefit of the present invention is that providers of products andservices (such as those that may be associated with a PIN) may useelectronic distribution and redemption channels that do not necessarilyinvolve the distribution to a consumer for reception from a consumer) ofa physical embodiment of a PIN (e.g., on a physical card). For instance,a top-up may be entirely electronic.

Cards and accounts may be activated in a variety of ways: in units of abatch at the point of sale by using an IVR (or web) based activationservice; or in units of a card, again at the point of safe, but byswiping the card through the acquisition or PCS terminal. Valueassociated with identifiers may also be activated and/or credited in anyother ways known in the art, such as any of those described in thefollowing U.S. patents and patent applications; U.S. application Ser.No. 10/778,338 filed Feb. 17, 2004, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/253,243filed Sep. 24, 2002, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/324,333 filedSep. 24, 2001, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/396,404 filed Jul.15, 2002, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/519,630 filed on Nov. 14,2003, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/519,629 filed on Nov. 14,2003, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/712,182 filed Nov. 13, 2003, U.S.application Ser. No. 10/655,828 filed Sep. 5, 2003, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/698,084 filed Nov. 3, 2003, U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/411,971 filed Apr. 11, 2003, U.S. application Ser. No.09/641,363 filed Aug. 18, 2000 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,361),U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/149,740 fifed Aug. 19, 1999, U.S.application Ser. No. 10/732,641 filed Dec. 10, 2003, the U.S.application filed Dec. 19, 2003 under Attorney Docket No. 64243.000005,and the U.S. patent application filed Jan. 16, 2004 under AttorneyDocket No. 64243.000006. All of these patents and applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other features ofthese patents and applications are also contemplated herein. It shouldbe appreciated that the authorization and activation of media devices asdescribed herein may be combined with the novel systems and methods ofthe applications referenced above.

It should be appreciated that the embodiments described above may havesome or all of die features described for that embodiments. For eachsystem component or step described above, a corresponding system andmethod according to the invention may comprise only a portion of thecomponent or step.

In some embodiments, the cards may only have value following activationoffering the industry very significant control benefits and minimizingfinancial risk to the retailer.

In some embodiments, the cards may only be charged after activation,offering much improved cost controls over existing services.

In some embodiments, the operators can significantly reduce or evenclose their IVR services. In some embodiments, the operators cansignificantly reduce their Customer Services support provision.

In some embodiments, the nature of the service also enables a singlegeneric card to be used for all networks, ensuring availability of stockand providing greater flexibility in card use.

According to some embodiments, a customer may designate a serviceprovider. A small number of cards, e.g., 3 cards with denominations of$5, $10, $20, could be in circulation instead of a larger number ofcards for each denomination for a plurality of different serviceproviders. A customer may purchase a single card and later select theservice provider (or select the service provider a t the point of sale).

It should be understood that fee identifiers are not limited to thepurchase of airtime. They may be used, unchanged and with the sameend-user interface, to purchase other services such as mobile services(text bundles, ring-tones, screen savers, games and so on) andnon-mobile services (WiFi time, web purchases, lottery tickets, etc). Ascontemplated herein, the identifiers may be used to add or activate anytype of value In any type of customer account. For instance, any of theproducts and/or services mentioned in commonly-owned U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/732,641 filed Dec. 10, 2003, are contemplated herein. Thedisclosure of this application is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

In some embodiments, one or more cards and identifiers may betransferable as gifts. For instance, an identifier may be passed fromone user device to another user's device. The transferee may then usethe identifier to redeem value in the same or similar manner as thatdescribed herein.

In some embodiments, the identifiers may be service-independent suchthat tire PIN may he used hr other financial transactions. In someembodiments, identifiers may be used with any network, such as a closedor open debit or credit network.

In some embodiments, because the manufacture and distribution of cardsmay be outside the control of the mobile operators, additional brandingand marketing opportunities are possible. For example cards themed forChristmas and other occasions, special editions, prizes and so on, orStarbucks or McDonald's branded cards become a possibility. Cards may bebranded with an entity other than (or in addition to) the provider ofthe card.

Using text as the mechanism for transferring the PIN to the airtimeservice, In some embodiments, “own label” PINs can be used to remove theneed for anything of value from the Mobile Operators in the wholeprocess. In some embodiments. Mobile Operators may be unaware of avoucher until the top-up occurs.

Some PINs/identifiers may redeemable for the purchase of age-relatedgoods and services (such as lotteries, and goods/services related toyounger children such as entry to theme parks, etc.). Adult content mayalso he purchased. Merchants may perform any necessary age checking atthe point of purchase. Redemption of these clearly marked PINs would herestricted according to their intended use.

The embodiments of the present inventions are not to be limited in scopeby the specific embodiments described herein. For example, although manyof the embodiments disclosed herein have been described with referenceto stored value cards and wireless phone accounts, the principles hereinare equally applicable to any other type of value identifier or indiciaand any other type of account. Also, although many of the embodimentshave been described in reference to “topping up” an account, theprinciples herein are equally applicable to other systems and methods ofadding or activating value in an account. Indeed, various modificationsof the embodiments of the present inventions, in addition to thosedescribed herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artfrom the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Thus, suchmodifications are intended to fall within the scope of the followingappended claims.

Further, although the embodiments of the present inventions have beendescribed herein in the context of a particular implementation in aparticular environment for a particular purpose, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited theretoarid that the embodiments of the present inventions can be beneficiallyimplemented in any number of environments for any member of purposes.Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view ofthe full breadth and spirit of the embodiments of the present inventionsas disclosed herein.

1-42. (canceled)
 43. A method for adding value to a pre-existingcustomer account, the method using an identifier associated with a valuethat is redeemable with a plurality of providers of goods or services,the method facilitated between a, a customer device, and a centralprocessor, the method comprising: receiving at the central processor arequest from the customer device via electronic communication to add thevalue associated with the identifier to the pre-existing customeraccount, the request being received from a customer device, the requestcomprising: the identifier associated with the value; and informationsufficient to identify the pre-existing customer account; based on therequest to add value, the central processor: determining the valueassociated with the identifier; causing the value to be added to thepre-existing customer account; and sending a communication to thecustomer device confirming that the value was added to the pre-existingcustomer account.
 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the informationsufficient to identify the pre-existing customer account is stored in amemory storage system comprised in the customer device.
 45. The methodof claim 43, wherein the identifier comprises a PIN.
 46. The method ofclaim 43, wherein the customer de vice comprises a mobile phone having aphone number, and wherein the information sufficient to identify thepre-existing customer account comprises the phone number.
 47. The methodof claim 43, wherein the information sufficient to identify thepre-existing customer account comprises an email address.
 48. The methodof claim 43, wherein the information sufficient to identify thepre-existing customer account comprises a user name and a password. 49.The method of claim 43, wherein the account comprises atelecommunications service account.
 50. The method of claim 43, whereinthe account comprises a financial services account.
 51. The method ofclaim 43, wherein the account comprises a multimedia account.
 52. Themethod of claim 51, wherein the account is usable to enable one or moreservices on the specific communication device.
 53. A system for addingvalue to a pre-existing customer account, comprising; a centralprocessor, in communication with a customer device, the centralprocessor configured to: receive from the customer device an electroniccommunication comprising an identifier of value and informationsufficient to identify the pre-existing customer account; determine thevalue based on the identifier; cause the value to be added to thepre-existing customer account; generate and send to the customer devicean electronic communication confirming that the value was added to thepre-existing customer account; the customer device, in electroniccommunication with the central processor, the customer device configuredto: send an electronic communication to the central processor comprisingthe identifier of value and information sufficient to identify thepre-existing customer account.